accelerator technology

Fermilab is upgrading its particle accelerators to generate high-intensity proton beams, which will pass through metallic “windows” and collide with a target. Researchers are testing the endurance of windows made of a titanium alloy, exposing samples to proton beams to see how the material performs.

Accelerator magnets — how do they work? Depending on the number of poles a magnet has, it bends, shapes or shores up the stability of particle beams as they shoot at velocities close to the speed of light. Experts design magnets so they can wield the beam in just the right way to yield the physics they’re after. Here’s your primer on particle accelerator magnets.